Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-04-13

Wheat Estimated as in About the Same
Condition as in 1SS1-Average for tho
Principal States-The Average COndi-
ton of Rye Placed at 92-LOss of
Horses, Cattle, Etc.
WASHINGTON CITY, April ll.-The report
of the department of agriculture for April
relates to the condition of winter grain and
the comparative healthfuness of farm ami
mails. The returns show that the condition
Of the soil at the time of seeding wheat was
somewhat unfavorabls in the states of the
Atlantic and gulf coasts owing to drought
during the late summer and autumn, most
severe in portions of Pennsylvania, in Mary
land and Virginia, and in parts Of Texas.
The same unfavorable conditions prevailed
in western Missouri and Kansas. The con-
tinued dry weather made blowing difficult,
seeding late, and in localities where it was
unbroken when winter set in germina-
tion was slow and the fall growth
small. In the great wheat states
of the central west, from Tennessee to Mis-
souri, the seed bed, for the greater part OF
the area, was in favorable condition, and,
with local exceptions, the plant made good
growth before going into winter quarters.
On the Pacific slope the early seeding time
was dry, butrains came later and the whole
breadth was put in in fair condition, though
somewhat after the usual date. The cover
ing of snow during the early portion
of the winter was better than usual
over a large part of the wheat
area, but there are from many sections COM
plants Of scanty protection during very try
ing weather since Feb. 10. The month of
March was the most severe for series Of
years, the temperature being below the
average, over the whole wheat area east Of
the Mississippi river and alternate freezing
and thawing wrought serious damage to the
bare fields, especially in bottom and poorly
drained lands. Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Ohio suffered severely from this inclem-
ency.
The general average of condition is SS, the
same as in 1884, and higher than at the same
date in 1853 and 1885, when it was so and rs
respectively. The April condition Of last
year was 925 which was still further i'm
proved by favorab ble weather during the
month. The average for the principal states
are New York 81, Pennsylvania 70, Mary
land 81, Virginia ~, Texas 79, Tennessee 81,
Kentucky 90, Ohio 70, Michigan 80, Indiana
80, Illinois So, Missouri 95, Kansas s3, Cali
fornia 92 Oregon 9S Damage from the
Hessian fly Is comparatively unnoticed; its
presence is mentioned in from one to four
counties in New York, Texas, Tennessee,
Ohio Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Rye has withstood the unfavora bic meteor
illogical conditions better than wheat, the
average of condition being % against 96 at
the same date year ago.
The returns of condition of farm animals
show loss of same amounting to 1874 per
cent, or over 5,5OO,0OO, and indicates the
continued widespread prevalence of hog
cholera. The losses of sheep amount to
Z per cent, of cattle and $40
per cent. Losses of cattle are heaviest in
the south and on the ranges of the far west,
from 5 to per cent while in the sections
where shelter is provided and better care
taken, it amounts to only 21S to 8 per cent. |
The loss among horses as usual, is very small, |
amounting for the whole country to less than |
seven-tenths of per cent.